B.S. in Health Education and Physical Education

The Department of Health, Physical Education and Movement Science offers a highly respected dual undergraduate major in health education and physical education that prepares you to teach both disciplines in elementary, middle and high schools. The 149-credit Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Physical Education program provides you with greater career flexibility and leads to New York State Initial Teaching Certification in two distinct areas.

Students in the program learn effective techniques of classroom management, curriculum design, and lesson planning for children in Kindergarten through Grade 12. Liberal arts courses in biology equip you with knowledge in human anatomy and physiology.

The Health Education component examines nutrition, health care services, sexuality and family planning, personal well-being, and drugs in contemporary society. You will learn how to encourage children and teenagers, in a non-judgmental approach, to discuss their experiences, attitudes and values related to health issues.

The Physical Education portion shows you how to create a program that motivates children and adolescents to stay fit. You will learn how to organize movement activities, create rules and regulations, conduct lessons that allow for maximum practice opportunity, analyze student performance and identify sports-related injuries.

You will gain field-based experience through student teaching in local school districts. Because the program offers the versatility to teach two areas of study, additional coursework is required. The program takes five years of full-time study to complete.

Program Goals

To produce qualified, caring and competent educators to meet the health and physical educational needs of a diverse society

To provide educational experiences that promote fitness, health and skill proficiency for the K-12 school curriculum

To prepare students with the knowledge and skills to sit for the New York State Teacher ertification Exam, and qualify to teach health and physical education on the elementary, middle and high school levels